Ski binding, in particular for cross-country skiing

ABSTRACT

A ski binding, in particular for cross-country skiing, comprising a sliding element ( 142 ) displaceable in the running direction, as well as at least two spring-loaded pins ( 101 ) movable in transverse direction for latching engagement in corresponding fittings in the tip region of the ski boot (step-in mechanism), wherein each of the two latching pins ( 101 ) is carried by a spring-loaded molded part ( 109 ) and the oppositely arranged molded parts ( 109 ) are guided in links of the sliding element ( 142 ).

The invention relates to a cross-country ski binding according to thepreamble of claim 1.

From DE 27 06 111 A, a ski binding of the initially mentioned type isknown, in which two transversely movable, spring-loaded pins areprovided which are carried by a spring steel wire, which consists of twolevers each rotatably held on a rotation axis fixed on a carrier anddirected perpendicularly to the ski upper side, which levers comprisepins acting like tongs for a respective engagement in a bearing arrangedat the side of the toe-cap. This binding harbors the risk of anunintentional opening of the binding when travelling over uneven ground.

It is an object of the present invention to provide measures forcounteracting the above-mentioned deficiency of the known ski bindingand, moreover, to allow for a simple construction which is easy tomount.

This object is achieved by the measure according to claim 1.

By dividing the control mechanism according to claim 2, a higherresilience is achieved and, thus, pressing out of amounts of snowpossibly present in openings of the boot fittings is achieved.

By the mode of construction according to claim 3, a particularlyeconomical production is possible, on the one hand, while it is ensured,on the other hand that the opening mechanism will also remain functionalunder difficult environmental conditions (icing up).

By the measure according to claim 4, the binding mechanism is protectedagainst the penetration of water and snow.

By the measure according to claim 5, the advantage of the measureaccording to claim 1 is intensified.

By the triangular opening according to claim 6, linear guiding of theprojections of the molded part is achieved, and thus, a precise controlwith as little frictional resistance as possible is attained.

The measure according to claim 7 allows for a particularly simple modeof construction, in particular for mounting.

By the measure according to claim 8, an increased resilience isobtained, thereby making it easier for the projections of the moldedparts to press out any possible accumulations of snow in thecorresponding openings of the boot parts.

By the measures according to claim 9, the safety of the binding isincreased.

By the bridge-like configuration according to claim 10, the economicalmode of production can be combined with an exact linear guiding.

In the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of the cross-country skibinding according to the invention is explained in more detail.

Therein,

FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the housing of the ski binding;

FIG. 2 shows a lid with the sliding element of the opening mechanism;

FIG. 3 shows the opening mechanism;

FIG. 4 shows a detail of the opening mechanism;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the binding;

FIG. 6 shows a further detail of the binding;

FIG. 7 shows a central longitudinal section of the binding partaccording to FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 shows a section according to line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

The binding housing consists of an external housing part 100 which hasopenings 103 on both sides for receiving the pins 101 of the step-inmechanism.

The housing 100 of the cross-country ski binding is seated on a baseplate 120 which, e.g., is screwed to a ski, on which base plate asliding element 142 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the runningdirection, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which sliding element, via a hinge130′ extending transversely to the running direction, is connected to alever 130 that projects obliquely upwards in the running direction, saidlever, as is visible in FIG. 5, having an oblique surface 105 destinedfor stepping out, and a depression 106 for insertion of the pole foropening the binding.

To prevent snow from penetrating between base plate 129 and bindinghousing 100, the former is provided with a peripheral rib 107 whichengages in a corresponding groove 108 of the housing part 100 (FIGS. 1and 3).

For the inventive cross-country ski binding to function as a step-inbinding, either the pin projections 101 may be chamfered or roundedtowards the top, or vice versa, if the pins are not chamfered, thecorresponding boot fittings may have appropriate guiding curves so thatstepping into the binding is possible without actuating the lever 130.

On both sides of the binding, the pins 101 project from one molded part109 each (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), which molded parts are located inmirror-inverted relationship on either side of the binding and providedwith a projection 110 which, as shown in FIG. 4, extends into atriangular opening 111 or 111′, respectively, of the sliding element142. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the openings 111, 111′ are locatedsymmetrically opposite each other about an axis extending transverselyto the running direction, and they are each provided with a guiding face112, or 112′, respectively, on which the respective projection 110 ofthe molded part 109 is supported, only one of the two projections 110being entered in FIG. 4 for the sake of clarity.

In the present case, the latching pins 1 are each provided with arounded portion at their ends facing away from each other, which roundedportion is located above that plane which extends through thelongitudinal axis of the pin and, in the engaged state, in parallel tothe ski upper side. The rounded portion may, however, extend as far asto the lower generatrix of the latching pins.

The molded parts 109 are each provided with a tapped blind hole 113 forreceiving a pressure spring 136 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which is tensionedbetween the molded parts 109 and the housing wall of the binding housing100. As can be seen from FIG. 4, preferably two pressure springs 136 areprovided which are located adjacent each other in running direction.

The mirror-inverted arrangement of the two molded parts 109 and thepossibility of installing two adjacently arranged pressure springs 136provide for a substantially higher resilience than exists inconventional cross-country ski bindings, making it possible to betterpress out snow accumulated in corresponding holes of the boot.

The diagonally oppositely arranged projections 110 are supported on theoblique guiding faces 112, 112′ in the acute-angled corners of theopenings 111, 111′ of the sliding element 142. When displacing thesliding element, the projections 109 are pressed towards each otherunder the influence of the guiding faces 112 and 112′ contrary to theforce of the springs 136, so as to release the pins 101 from theirengaged position.

For stepping out, the skier presses the lever 130 downwards in thedepression 106 with his pole. By this, the lever 130 slides along thechamfered face 105 obliquely forwards and downwards, thereby pulling thesliding element 142 forwards, whereby the two molded parts 109 arepulled together along the control curves 112′ and thus, the latchingpins 101 relase the boot.

On its front end facing away from the lever 130, the sliding element 142is guided in the bridge part 114 of the housing 100 visible in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 3, the boot fittings are schematically indicated and denoted by115.

1. A ski binding, in particular for cross-country skiing, comprising asliding element displaceable in the running direction, as well as atleast two spring-loaded pins movable in transverse direction forlatching engagement in corresponding fittings in the tip region of theski boot (step-in mechanism), characterized in that each of the twolatching pins (101) is carried by a molded part (109) that is movabletransversely to the running direction, which molded part each is loadedby a spring acting transversely to the running direction and guided inone link each of the sliding element (142), which sliding element isdisplaceable in the running direction.
 2. A ski binding according toclaim 1, characterized in that the sliding element (142) is guided inthe running direction on a base plate (129) fastened to the ski, thebase plate (129) being covered at least in the region of the tip of theski boot by a housing (100) in which openings (103) are provided oneither side thereof so as to receive the latching pins (101) of thestep-in mechanism.
 3. A ski binding according to claim 1, characterizedin that the sliding element (142), via a hinge (130′) extendingtransversely to the running direction, is connected to a lever (130)that projects obliquely upwards in the running direction, having anoblique surface (105) destined for stepping out, and a depression forinsertion of the pole for opening the binding.
 4. A ski bindingaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the base plate (129) isprovided with a peripheral rib (107) which engages in a correspondinggroove (108) of the housing part (100).
 5. A ski binding according toclaim 1, characterized in that on both sides of the binding, thelatching pins (101) project from one molded part (109) each, whichmolded parts (109) are located in mirror-inverted relationship on eitherside of the binding and provided with a projection (110) extending intoa link of the sliding element.
 6. A ski binding according to claim 5,characterized in that the link consists of preferably triangularopenings (111 or 111′, respectively,) located symmetrically oppositeeach other about an axis extending transversely to the runningdirection, and each provided with a guiding face (112, or 112′,respectively,) on which the respective projection (110) of the moldedpart (109) is supported.
 7. A ski binding according to claim 1,characterized in that the molded parts (109) are each provided with atapped blind hole (113) for receiving a pressure spring (136) which istensioned between oppositely arranged molded parts (109).
 8. A skibinding according to claim 1, characterized in that viewed in therunning direction, at least two pressure springs (136) are adjacentlyarranged.
 9. A ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe oppositely arranged projections (110) of the molded parts (109) aresupported on oblique guiding faces (112, 112′) in the openings (111,111′) of the sliding element (142), which openings serve as links, andby displacement of the sliding element are movable towards or away fromeach other, respectively, and are under the action of the springs (136).10. A ski binding according to claim 1, characterized in that theski-tip side end of the sliding element (142) or its end facing awayfrom the lever (130) is guided in a bridge part (114) of the housing(110).